Across its two-decade history, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge has delivered some of the greatest moments in HBCU football, with unforgettable plays, dramatic upsets, and record-breaking feats that have electrified fans year after year.
These top 20 moments showcase the essence of competition between both conferences, highlighting both legendary individual performances and game-defining team achievements.
From heart-stopping overtime finishes and defensive stands to explosive touchdowns and history-making comebacks, these highlights define the Challenge’s enduring legacy as a stage for football excellence.
2005 – Tavaris Jackson’s 79-yard TD pass: In the inaugural Challenge, Alabama State’s Tavaris Jackson wowed the crowd with a spectacular 79-yard touchdown, although South Carolina State emerged victorious.
2005. Alabama State quarterback Tavaris Jackson launches this beautiful 79-yard bomb to Lorenzo “Slim” Hoffman. pic.twitter.com/5nCpxd2no3
— Stan Becton (@stan_becton) August 25, 2022
2006—Hampton beats Grambling State in overtime: This thrilling game was decided 27-26 in overtime, setting the tone for the new classic.
2007 – Southern edges Florida A&M before 30,000+ fans: The game’s largest-ever crowd at the time witnessed a 33-27 Southern win.
2008 – Hampton holds off Jackson State: Hampton claims a 17-13 defensive battle in Orlando.
2009 – South Carolina State wins wild shootout: SCSU topped Grambling State 34-31 in a back-and-forth contest.
2010 – Southern’s 10-point 4th quarter comeback: Southern defeats Delaware State 37-27 thanks to a dramatic finish.
2011 – Bethune–Cookman routs Prairie View A&M: Bethune–Cookman set a record margin with their 63-14 victory.
2014 – North Carolina A&T runs wild: The Aggies’ 47 points and a blowout over Alabama A&M set scoring records. Tarik Cohen earned MVP honors in the 2014 MEAC/SWAC Challenge after running for 166 yards and 2 TDs on just 11 carries.
2015 – South Carolina State dominates Arkansas–Pine Bluff: SCSU’s 35-7 win featured a stifling defense.
2016 – Game canceled mid-action: Hurricane Hermine forced a rare “no contest” (Bethune–Cookman vs. Alcorn State).
2017 – Defensive slugfest: Southern’s 14-8 win over South Carolina State was the lowest-scoring Challenge ever, featuring clutch late-game stops by the Jaguars’ defense.
2018 – Prairie View A&M’s offensive explosion: Set records with 223 rushing yards by Dayonya Tucker and 633 total yards—a 40-24 win over NC Central.
2019 – Bethune-Cookman’s big 2nd half and mascot interference: Bethune-Cookman pulled away with a 36-15 win over Jackson State after a big second-half surge. But that wasn’t the takeaway from this one. After a Jackson State TD, the team’s mascot ran into the endzone and got involved in the play.
2021 – North Carolina Central upsets Alcorn State: NCCU controlled the game for a 23-14 win post-pandemic.
2022 – Longest game in history: Lasted nearly five hours and ended at 1:18 AM, with Alabama State defeating Howard 23-13 after multiple weather delays.
2023 – Jackson State sets Challenge records: With new coach T.C. Taylor and QB Jason Brown’s 364 passing yards and 87% completion, JSU routed SCSU 37-7 amid the largest Atlanta crowd to date.
2024 – Florida A&M wins by one point: The Rattlers squeak past Norfolk State 24-23 in another tight matchup.
2005 – South Carolina State’s inaugural win: The Bulldogs set the standard in the first-ever Challenge, led by MVP Cleveland McCoy.
2012 – Bethune–Cookman outguns Alabama State: A 38-28 victory with offensive fireworks.
2013 – Florida A&M dominates Mississippi Valley State: FAMU pulls away for a commanding 27-10 victory.
